Don’t use your walkie-talkie while driving on Ames property

Excerpts from NASA Procedural Requirements, NPR 8715.3B (effective April 04, 2007):

3.2.2.1 Operators of motor vehicles on NASA property or operating a NASA vehicle both on and off NASA property shall:

c. Not use hand-held communication devices while the vehicle is motion except for emergency, security, and fire vehicles during official operations.

Note: This includes cell phones, walkie-talkies (FRS, Part 90, ham), Ames EDACS M/A-Coms, M-RKs, and other hand-held wireless communication devices.

For complete regulation, see http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov/displayDir.cfm?Internal_ID=N_PR_8715_003B_&page_name=Chapter3

Note: Above regulation is applicable to federal property, NASA Ames Research Center, not outside the Ames boundary.

New California Vehicle Code cellphone law

The new California Vehicle Code cellphone law, CVC 23123 effective July 1, 2008, prohibits cellphone use but not two-way radios including amateur radio units. See http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/. It is legal to operate your amateur radio while driving but with common sense of course. You still can be cited for unsafe driving.

From http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/dl208_03cell_phone.pdf

“Q: May I use a dedicated two-way radio while driving?”
“A: Yes. The use of dedicated two-way radios such as walkie-talkies or Citizen Band (CB) radios is not affected by the new law.”

However, while on Ames property you cannot use walkie-talkies while driving.

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